nape of the neck; back of the neck; scruff of the neck
prime of one's working life
to close one's eyes; to lower one's eyelids; to shut one's eyes; to die; to breathe one's last
to slacken; to loosen; to relax; to slack off (e.g. one's work, attention); to not put one's heart in
to be ready; to be prepared; to be in order; to be put in order; to be adjusted; to be regulated
to swell; to become swollen; to become puffy (e.g. face from lack of sleep); to become bloated (esp. from fluid retention)
monstrously ugly; hideous; ugly and bizarre
wine and women; sensual pleasures; dissipation
to weigh on one's mind; to be worried about (something)
rumination; regurgitation; chewing the cud; turning over in one's mind; thinking over something; pondering
cool breeze; refreshing breeze
emission; emanation; letting out (feelings); venting; divergence (of light); divergence
thirst; craving; thirst (for love, knowledge, etc.); hunger
slight intoxication; being tipsy
sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages
to start; to start up; to embark on; to get going; to commence
every evening; every night
the reason is ...; it is because ...
tipsy; pleasantly drunk; mellow; entranced; enchanted; captivated
to choose at one's own discretion; to choose when to do something; to estimate (the time for something)
glamorous; charming; beguiling; bewitching; beautiful; fascinatingly elegant
fascinating; voluptuous; bewitching; captivating
working earnestly; sincerity; diligence; effort; pains
dissatisfaction; discontent; displeasure; complaint; unhappiness
to blink (one's eyes); to wink; to bat; to twinkle (e.g. stars); to flicker; to waver
to profit; to get; to have (bear, beget) a child; to have a stroke of luck
dregs; sediment; lees (esp. sake); leftovers; by-product; worthless item; junk
hail (esp. hailballs under 5 mm); graupel; dicing; small cubes; roasted mochi pieces (usu. flavoured with soy sauce, etc.)
double; two-fold; diplo-; dipl-; double-edged eyelid; double eyelid
to reach one's ears; to come to one's knowledge; to hear about; to learn of (by chance)
what; what sort of thing; everything; anything; what (on earth)?; what's the meaning of this ...?
to hang one's head; to look down; to cast one's eyes downward
to be enthralled by; to be disguised as
feudal period (characterized by the rule of the shogunate, 1185-1867); age of militarist government
Dynastic period (the Nara period and esp. the Heian period, characterized by the rule of the emperor as opposed to shogunate)
estrangement; alienation; neglecting to stay in contact